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| A: The Adjustment to College of Latino Undergraduates: Re-conceptualizing Traditional Influences and Perspectives - Mickey C. Melendez, PhD Learning points: 1. Examine the literature regarding the theory and process of adjustment to college. 2. Identify literature regarding college adjustment of Latino populations, and specific influences to college adjustment of minority college populations. 3. Discuss implications for recruitment and retention strategies for Latino students. Although academic issues are of central importance to newly matriculating students, the ability to adjust to college life and maintain enrollment is affected by a number of non-academic issues, such as finances, loneliness, health, interpersonal struggles, autonomy, and change (Kaczmarek, Matlock, & Franco, 1990; Melendez, in press). Socio-cultural factors, such as race/ethnicity, gender, and social and familial support also play a key role in the adjustment to college (Melendez, 2006; Tomlinson-Clarke, 1998), especially for students attending predominantly white colleges or universities. Moreover, for Latino students, the adjustment to college may be especially challenging given underlying familial values and expectations inherent in Latino culture, which may be inconsistent with traditional views of the transition to college in the United States. This presentation focuses on the influences of specific cultural and demographic factors (i.e.: gender, parental education, birth origin, living situation, and involvement in extra-curricular activities) that have been theorized to influence college adjustment, on a diverse group of college students attending an urban university. A review of the scant literature regarding college adjustment and Latino populations will be provided. Lastly, recommendations for improving the adjustment experiences of Latino college students and recommendations for future research will be discussed. |
| B: Racism is a key constituent to health disparities for Latinos and African-Americans - Daniel Cruz, MA, PhD Candidate Learning Points: 1. Identify the health disparities among African-Americans and Latinos 2. Recognize the role of racism as a contributing factor 3. Understand stress as a plausible mechanism to the racism-health relationship Ethnic minorities continue to experience a higher prevalence of health risks compared to the general population. Based on national health statistics, African-Americans and Latinos, are at particular risk for cardiovascular diseases and together represent two groups that are affected by poor health status relative to the general population. Unfortunately, these health disparities continue to exist and projections from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggest that the circumstances are progressively worsening. Key findings from a series of nationally based studies have shown that racism is a key constituent to the health disparities experienced among African-Americans and Latinos. The stress experienced as a result of direct and indirect racist practices among ethnic minorities serves as a major catalyst to the poor health outcomes mentioned above. This discussion will highlight research on race-related stress and its physiological and health consequences among African-Americans and Latinos. |
C: The important role medical/psychological education has for Latino epilepsy patients Epilepsy is a disorder that historically has been the subject of myths, stigma, and general misunderstanding throughout the world. Negative conceptions of epilepsy within the Latino culture include supernatural beliefs, such as the disorder is a punishment and/or demonically associated. More widespread and hurtful perceptions include, believing that epilepsy will lead to insanity, mental retardation, a complete inability to be independent, a prohibition to reproduce, and represents an overall hopeless condition. When these beliefs are held by parents and other important members in the patient's life, the impact can be devastating in the form of self –fulfilling prophecies and augmentation of psychological disorders. |
D: Esperanza y Paz – el programa preventivo de superacion y crecimiento personal |
E: Integrating Multicultural Competency with Evidenced-Based Treatment for Sexually Abused Children - Caridad Moreno, PhD, Aileen Torres, PhD, Craig Springer, PhD Justin Misurell, MA Learning objectives: 1. Examine barriers and cultural factors in treating sexually abused Latino children and their families. 2. Identify strategies to address the challenges of integrating multicultural principles into group therapy for sexual abuse. This roundtable discussion will encourage an exploration of various strategies for overcoming obstacles to developing culturally competent therapeutic services for children who have been sexually abused. Clinicians from the Metropolitan Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center (RDTC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center will describe the challenges encountered in delivering a Cognitive-Behavior group therapy program for children who have been sexually abused and maltreated within predominantly urban, impoverished Latino communities. Specific areas of difficulty include integrating multicultural principles into the existing group therapy curriculum, generating activities that promote cultural expression and understanding within the context of therapy, training clinicians to be culturally sensitive, and collaborating with families in the treatment of diverse children. RDTC clinicians will begin with a concise overview of the CBT group therapy program and will discuss specific aspects of the curriculum requiring greater cultural sensitivity. Strategies for how to recruit and maintain African-American and Latino clients will also be discussed. Audience participation will be actively encouraged. Given that the integration of culturally sensitive principles with the CBT group therapy program is a work in progress, this roundtable discussion should be viewed as an opportunity to brainstorm new ideas and strategies for further improving programmatic elements. |
